What’s Next for Scotland?
On 18 September 2014, Scotland voted to reject independence and remain within the United Kingdom. In total, 3,619,915 people voted, making the turnout 84.5 per cent, a record high for a nationwide vote in Scotland – topping the 81 per cent turnout recorded at the 1951 general election, according to the BBC.
Voters in Scotland were asked one simple yes or no question concerning independence: ‘Should Scotland be an independent country?’ 55.3 per cent of voters chose ‘No’, while 44.7 per cent chose ‘Yes’.
What Happens Now – Further Devolution
Scotland will remain part of the United Kingdom with its own parliament. Both the UK and Scottish governments will continue making the changes to the devolved powers of the Scottish Parliament that were agreed to in the Scotland Act 2012.
Additionally, during the referendum campaign the leaders of the three main parties at Westminster – David Cameron, Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg – signed a pledge to devolve even more powers to Scotland if Scottish citizens rejected independence. Former Prime Minister and current Scottish MP Gordon Brown drafted a timetable for further devolution that was endorsed by all pro-Union parties. The timetable has five main points, listed below:
1. September 2014 – Work begins on drafting new legislation.
2. October 2014 – The present UK government will publish proposals by 31 October.
3. November 2014 – After a period of consultation, the government will draw up a white paper listing out the proposed powers.
4. January 2015 – The government will publish the draft for a new Scotland Act on Burns Night (25 January).
5. May 2015 – The Queen will include the bill in her speech.
On 19 September, Prime Minister David Cameron announced that Lord Smith of Kelvin would oversee the implementation of further devolution. But with the UK general election scheduled for May 2015, any new Scotland legislation would not be passed until the new parliament begins.
Answering the West Lothian Question
In the wake of plans for further devolution, Cameron also promised a resolution to the so-called West Lothian question: Is it fair that Scottish MPs can vote on issues that affect only England when English MPs cannot vote on issues that affect only Scotland?
The prime minister announced on 19 September that William Hague, leader of the House of Commons, will lead a special cabinet committee to draw up proposals for what would be a fundamental change at Westminster allowing only English MPs to vote on English matters. The committee will have the same November deadline as the white paper listing the proposed devolved powers. Cameron also suggested that in the future, similar proposals would apply to Welsh and Northern Irish MPs.
For more information on the Scottish independence referendum, see www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/scottish-independence-referendum. Schofield Insurance Brokers will keep you updated on the process as it develops.